The end to Nebraska FFA’s bittersweet year

The end to Nebraska FFA’s bittersweet year
April 9th, 2021 | Marie Meis

While a year of Zoom meetings and canceled plans is hard for everyone, it can be especially hard for young people. Every year, Nebraska FFA elects seven individuals who are either graduating high school or finishing their freshman year of college. They are selected to serve as Nebraska State FFA Officers and spend their year traveling, learning and leading. This year completely changed their plans.

Hannah Moseman, 2020-2021 Nebraska State FFA Secretary, said she has learned adaptability the most this year. She and her teammates were elected via Zoom last May instead of in front of a cheering crowd in Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Moseman is from Oakland, Nebraska, and is a freshman agricultural education major. She joined FFA as a sophomore in high school.

“Right when I joined it all clicked for me. I’m building lifelong connections here,” she said.

She and her teammates interviewed right before the world shut down in March. State officer interviews typically include three days of preliminary interviews and one to two days of finals interviews.

After many delays, the team was announced via Zoom in May. Nebraska FFA was under a strict travel ban and the officers weren’t able to meet for official FFA business until filming for state convention this March.

While a year in Nebraska FFA is normally full of competitions, camps and conferences, it all had to be adapted.

To make up for Chapter Officer Leadership Training that is normally the first event that the new team puts on in May, on-demand leadership trainings were sent out to chapter officers across the state. Instead of attending the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, officers and members watched virtually.

Sarah Heideman, Nebraska State FFA Advisor, described the officers’ year as challenging and frustrating.

“But young leaders often have the attitude and mindset of we change the world, which is incredible,” Heideman said.

She used the word fortitude to describe the team and their year. “Hey when things get tough, you figure it out and you make it happen.”

So as convention came nearer, they had to make a plan.

State Convention is the last event the officers do before the new team is elected. It recognizes and celebrates members, supporters, parents, stakeholders, teachers and state officers.

This year, it is a mixture of live and pre-recorded videos that are streamed during session times. The first session was at 6:30 pm on April 7 and included opening ceremonies, remarks, student awards and Moseman’s retiring address. Her address was titled, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

Instead of cheering crowds and proud parents in the front rows, officers delivered lines to cameras.

The new state officer team will be elected at the end of state convention. Heideman didn’t know what the next year will hold but has said they have proven they can gather in small groups of 10 or less safely.

“One teacher sent an email, ‘You do the best and we’ll do the same’ and I love that,” Heideman said. “It’s such a great way to look at this year; there’s challenges, there’s things we cannot help but we’re doing the best with what we have.”

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